Google Summer of Code

[Marcin Król]

> Yes, but that was because text mode installer was broken for some time 
> (remember that reports about kernel-grsecurity package?)

No. It never was installers fault. It was always working ok. That was
always PLD fault. At that time many packages either changed their names,
were renamed, obsoleted, etc. With every such change installer bootdisks
needed to be regenerated. Same with ISOs. And yes, for some time I was
regenerating bootdisk (but not ISOs). It was just endless work. Now its
better, but problem will never vanish. Packages are still being
obsoleted or removed rendering installers unusable w/o updates of
package sets.

Besides, current text mode installer has some serious limitations. To
name most important one: diskette size. I'm unable to include de_DE
translation due to lack of free space. Kernel 2.6 will never made it
onto bootdisks too due to its hue size. With 2.4 squeezed to about 660
KBs of bootdisk you barely have 1.2 MB for all installer files and base
kernel modules (cdrom, isofs, floppy, ext2, generic ide etc.). Thats
quite little space you know.

Also installer design wasn't that good. I admit, there are still some
things that could be put into it, but if you wan't to create some text
mode installation you'd better write it from scratch or better take
intereset in anaconda. If you'll decide to continue current text mode
installer when I'll drop it be ready to include some ugly hacks or
workarounds, to fight for every byte of space, to update packages sets
(and thus bootdisks and ISOs) every month etc, etc, etc.

I hope, I made it clear what I think about it.

M.